About this episode

The episode critiques the validity of America's national mythos in light of its 250th anniversary.

On the surface, the USA is thriving and a "light unto the world", as Trump recited in his speeches marking the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence on July 4th 1776. But is this 'national mythos' still valid? Was it ever? Does the US live up to its claims of uniqueness with respect to 'freedom' and 'democracy'? If not, what is this exceptional nation's 'chief feature'? Excess? By extreme contrast, the country the US arguably just lost a war against, Iran, is undergoing...

Topics covered

• American history
• national identity
• freedom
• democracy
• exceptionalism
• political critique

Keywords

• America
• Trump
• freedom
• democracy
• exceptionalism
• Iran
• national mythos

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: USA

Places: Iran

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